Rugby attack

Rugby attack - when you get the ball you must attack and score tries. Know how you do it!

Attack!

Your team must control the ball - a major part of attack.

Control the ball...

carry the ball - running or walking, you must be on your feet Note: You`re allowed to walk but I don`t advise it - if you find you`re holding the ball GET RUNNING!

hand it to a team-mate (never forwards from your position)

pass (controlled throw) to a team-mate(again, never forwards)

You may also kick the ball in any direction, including forwards - but doing that will probably give away control of the ball to the opposition. Forget about kicking till you know more about how to play rugby.

Until you are confident you know how to play rugby, this is a good a good rule of thumb

wherever the ball goes when your team has possession, imagine a line passing through the ball that goes from one side of the field to the other (like the half way line does)

stay behind or get behind that line and you will be available to help the ball carrier or receive the ball from a pass or kick

Some other rules of thumb when carrying the ball in rugby attack

run straight (parallel with the touch lines) - this rapidly moves the ball towards the opposition goal-line

run hard - it`s more difficult to stop you!

learn how to sidestep - get past the opposition

if you can`t beat the opposition players make them commit to tackling you - so they aren`t available to tackle team-mates you pass to

avoid getting isolated - strength in numbers

sidestep - yes it`s here twice! - beating defenders is a vital part of how to play rugby

use support players - you`re a team, many hands make light work

The differences in size, strength, speed, atheletic abilities, vision, knowledge and skill of the players in the two teams create uneven contests between players who find themselves facing each other

Put that together with all the shouting, running, falling, tackling and pushing and it`s pretty chaotic.

Keep surveying the whole scene - it`s vital

You must know where everyone is NOW - and where they`re going

As the attacking team you must find or create uneven contests and take advantage of them - break through with the ball and score!

Make sure you have good running, passing and catching skills so that when your coach introduces attacking plays you will find it easy to take part.

Make yourself INvaluable in attack - make sure you can sidestep

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